Tag Archives: Offensive Strategy

Not having a three-point shooter does not mean a team cannot still extend a defence with long two point shooting positions in offense (Photo Source: J R)

Basketball is a team sport and requires a balanced array of different roles and one commonly missing is that of a shooter. Shooters as the name implies are players within a team who can make long-range jump shots from the perimeter. They are often one of the critical elements teams go to extraordinary lengths to compensate for when they do not have them. In the sport of basketball shooters, like a true Point Guard, or an Anchoring Centre, can be one of the pieces of the puzzle often needing to be replaced with some sort of strategy to overcome this missing link.

Within a basketball offense there is a number of different roles to be played. Not having one piece of this complex array of different options is not the be all and end all of a team’s offense. All it means is that these weaknesses need to be minimised and if possible, over time strengthen as much as possible so they no longer pose as significant a threat to the teams operations.

Recoginse the Opportunities

One of the first steps in dealing with a poor shooting team from long range is to identify those within the group with the longest possible range from what you currently do have. Just because a player cannot make three-point shots, does not mean they do not have extended range from within the arch. There is still plenty of room from which to extend a defence from within the three-point line. In some cases, this will mean simple adjustment to the placing of players or where they must be aware of taking their shots from so they are within their range.

By identifying those players with an extended two point range this will also serve as an opportunity to underline those players who should be worked with most closely to achieve over the course of the season some potential for a three-point threat.

Practice, Practice, and Practice some more…

Once a team has identified those players with the best possible chance of becoming a competent shooter. These players then need to be given opportunities to practice this skill at length. This may mean additional small group sessions; work on form shooting and lots of repetitions. Ensure though that once the individual’s technique is refined that shooting under pressure is incorporated as soon as possible.

Being a good shooter is more than just being able to make a shot from the three-point line. It is about consistency under pressure. To achieve this outcome game like situations need to be employed and executed at a game pace with live defence.

Do Not Compound Problems

Try to avoid magnifying the issue of not have a shooter. Take add steps to think about the offense being implemented and how this can be refined to not be affected by not having a shooter. Nothing hurts a team worse than not having a shooter, but still placing players into these positions within a play. Players will still attempt these shots, miss and create turnovers of possession without a high percentage shooting opportunity being the outcome.

As mentioned in the first point ensuring players are aware of their shooting range is one tactical change, which can be employed, and there are a few others:

Early offense out of fast breaks, broken play and transition do not require three-point shooting

Full court pressure defence’s will need to be explored to help with creating opportunities to make up deficits in points

Provide more cutting opportunities towards the basket to compensate for less opportunities from the perimeter

Utilise screening heavily to allow players to become free. Defences when playing against a team without a shooter will sag into the three-point line. Various screening actions can help free players create offensive opportunities off and on the ball

When screening, have screeners roll into shooting range positions where they might normally flare for further away shots

Incorporate mid-range offensive possibilities into all offense/play breakdowns. Often coaches tend to focus on the three-point shot, or a drive to the basket instead of also discussing these in-between options

Players when rotating need to be focusing on passing opportunities rather than catch and shoot options. Players especially when forming sideline triangles often use passing as a secondary option. However in a team without a shooter this passing option to also be explored with more importance and this will need to be done more regularly in games to keep points ticking over

Rebounding must be a way of Life

If a team does not have a shooter, then rebounding must become a very highly valued characteristic that all players must display. Ensuring consistency within a team’s offensive rebounding strategy will help reduce the effects of a below average shooting performance.

A some stage a coach will find a team that does not have a shooter. Developing a shooter can be a lengthy process if the identified possible players do not put in the work, day in and day out. So a coach should think about adapting their offense to meet the abilities of the team.

The Primary Transition Small Forward Link Play looks to exploit the strength of the player filling the Three (Small Forward) in the team’s offense. This Primary Transition looks to provide space for the Three (3) player in the full court allowing for a strong player to be isolated more significantly from help defence. This is very effective if this player is very powerful on the dribble, as this will mean a numbers advantage in most situations when attacking the basket from the Primary Transition providing the Small Forward (Three) can beat their player off the dribble.

Additionally, by playing a pivotal player at this position there is also the opportunity to utilise this stop as a pressure release option against full court or extended pressure defence situations. This will be of use to teams who struggle with trapping pressure because of a weakness in the backcourt.

Primary Transition: Small Forward Link Diagram 1

To help with the explanation of the primary transition movements, the set-up for the offensive players is out of a 2-3 Zone Defence.

One (1) and Two (2) fill outlet roles. Both players lead for the ball by first breaking the three-point line and then continuing to lead back for the ball until either one has received the outlet pass.

The best position for the guards (One and Two) to receive a pass is when they are in the outlet pocket. Which is on the foul line extended on the three-point line.

Three (3) once possession is confirmed is in a dead sprint to reach the halfway line while the two guards are creating a lead.

The two forwards who did not get the rebound (Three and Four) start a sprint to the halfway line trying to go through the centre circle.

The rebounder (Five) looks for the outlet and trails the ball up the floor. This player should remain behind the line of the ball and be a pressure release passing option if needed.

Three (3) is the primary target to be the second receiver in the primary transition. However if this player secures the rebound, then it will be the first player out of Four (4) or Five (5) who reaches halfway will move to this position.

Primary Transition: Small Forward Link Diagram 2

The first forward to halfway (3) cuts to the strong side sideline looking for the pass (as the second receiver) from the outlet (2).

The second forward (Four) over halfway sprints to the front of the basket.

The weak side guard (One) sprints down the sideline creating width on the court.

The outlet (Two) once they have received the ball, will look to pass first, then dribble if no option is present.

The order of passing options will be:

Three (3) down the strong side sideline

Four (4) on the front of the rim

One (1) from skip pass across court

Five (5) with a pressure release pass

Primary Transition: Small Forward Link Diagram 3

The sideline receiver (3) upon catching the ball squares up to the basket looking for the post target (Four). If the post target is not an option, attacking dribbles are used to bring the ball below the broken circle extended on the 3-point line or attack the basket aggressively.

This is the time when an offensively dominant Small Forward (Three) can break down their defensive match-up and create an advantage in offense.

If the post target (Four) has not received the ball by the time it has reached the broken circle extend then they move to the weak side of the key in line with the backboard.

Two (2) makes a read and if the post is moving out of the key, then two will speed up.

Primary Transition: Small Forward Link Diagram 4

Two (2) cuts hard off the movement starting from the outlet to the basket at full pace.

Five (5) replaces off shallow cut, and creating lead for the ball

One (1) replaces off shallow cut, and creating lead for the ball

This movement should help create initial player movement out of the primary transition and lead into a team’s half-court offense.

Managing a Team Offense can be a very challenging aspect of basketball coaching. Finding the right key to unlock an opposition’s defence is one of the more pressing issues every coach faces when they take the floor. When speaking with coaches one of the motivating factors which is often discussed in regards to play or offensive system selection is “will this beat everything”? Many coaches over coach their teams offensive needs because of a fear that they will not be able to deal with a defence one day and need more, rather than fewer offensives well executed play options.

There are however a number of different strategies for managing a team’s offense during a game which will help deal with the challenges of defences in general.

Coaching a Team Offense is all about Options (Source: Ben Stanfield)

The first step is to Define what is Working during a game. A team’s offense will work slightly different against every team. If you are playing in the higher levels of competition then a team will have scouted a team’s offense prior to the game. Most of the more favoured plays can be less effective in these cases if not executed well by the offense. In this situation when looking at a team offense it is important to recognise what is working well. This might be a particular play or certain read during an aspect of a play. For example guarding a back-cut might something a defence is unable to do with a good rate of proficiency. By exposing the weakness this will change how a defensive team might help off the ball and then the team’s defensive rotations might change affecting the whole defence in general.

As a coach when examining the team offense, it is important to be able to Look for a Counter to the strategy of the defence. As stated earlier defences might be scouting a team well in advance and be comfortable with defending the standard offensive play options. In these situations, it is important for a coach and team to be familiar enough with an offense to be able to employ counters and exploit the tactics being used by the defence. For example, a defence might be switching on all on-ball screens. In this situation, the offense may look to always to pass to the screener on the roll to the basket.

Most team offense is situational and it is important for a coach to know What is Needed from the Team Offense Right Now. Being aware of the flow of the game and what type of scoring option is best will help a coach choose the right play for the defensive situation or that time during a game. In some situations, this will mean a three-point shot, other times it will be tactically specific like looking for shots within the offense that are in the keyway because this is a must score possession.

Another way to select the right team offense is to Look for the Inform Player. The inform player is the player with the “Hot Hand”. Try to find options for this player to gain possession in offense can be a useful way create issues for the defence. This should not mean that the same offense is run every possession, but that the inform player is found within the offense more regularly to keep their run of form going and in turn fuelling the team’s offense overall.

A good strategy to examine when things are not going well is to ask yourself, Are you Using all the Phases in your Offense? By doing this, a coach might be able to identify if there are gaps in the offensive phases of a team. If the half court team offense is not working, then looking to exploit other elements (fast break or primary transition) might be the best option to help a team continue to put points on the board. By not looking to utilise the full spectrum of team offense phases a team will be limiting their opportunity to play basketball in its fullest capacity.

If everything is going bad in regards to being able to find a scoring option then the one golden rule is Rotate, Rotate and Rotate Some More. As a coach, it is important to always keep rotating through the various team offenses to try and find a formula that works against the oppositions defence. Rotating sometimes it is about the players on the court working out how to execute what is needed, sometimes it is about using the right play against the defensive change-up and other times, it is about rotating the team offense to make it difficult for the opposition to match-up and counter as effectively as possible.

In conclusion there is never any situation under which a coach should choose to give up on a game or the team. Having options and being prepared to exercise these choices makes a coach and team just that much harder to beat. Managing a team offense is not always easy and as a coach, being challenged will only serve to provide experience and opportunity to learn and grow.

The UCLA Offense is very effective at using screening actions to create mismatches and advantages for an offense. The UCLA Offense Dual Point Cut Play looks to create space in the middle of the floor by rotating players quickly and then isolating an interior player deep in the post. The UCLA Offense Dual Point Cut Play can be run straight out of a primary transition or as a walk up offense in the half court.

UCLA Offense: Dual Point Cut Diagram 1

The formation for the offense initially in 4 Out and 1 In. The interior player Five (5) is deep on the basket in a position similar to how many transition offenses finish. From this position, the Five (5) could lift to either side of the floor to initiate the offense.

One (1) makes a pass to Two (2). This pass can be initiated as part of the team’s transition so in effect the cut by One (1) can be started from across halfway. A very effective movement if executed well.

Variation:

If the offense is not being initiated through a transition then the interior player can start on one side of the keyway which allows for Five (5) to flash into the key prior to lifting. If this movement is performed before the pass is made from One (1) to Two (2) then all help defenders will be outside the keyway. Effectively isolating the interior player.

Scoring Options:

Interior player (Five) on the pass

One (1) on the UCLA Cut to the basket

UCLA Offense: Dual Point Cut Diagram 2

One (1) once reaching the front of the basket then moves to the strong side long corner. This movement helps overload one side of the floor by pulling players outside of the keyway in possible help defence position.

Five (5) moves from where the UCLA Cut screen was set (previous sequence) to the split line to set a second screen for Four (4) on the second consecutive cut to the basket.

To provide the best possible angle it would help that when Five (5) goes to set the screen for Four (4) that the screener takes a step towards the basket before moving into the screening position.

Three (3) lifts to the weak side elbow extended.

Scoring Options:

Four (4) on the cut to the basket

Five (5) following the screen for high/low set-up in the keyway

If Four (4) is being fronted and the defence is in full denial then the ball can be reversed to Three (3) on the lift and the pass looking to be made while the defender is on the weak side of the floor

UCLA Offense: Dual Point Cut Diagram 3

Five (5) lifts to the strong side elbow extended.

Two (2) reverses the ball to Five (5). On the catch Five (5) must square up to the basket and look to engage the defender. This will help pull the defensive player out of the keyway and the cutting area for One (1) later in the play.

Four (4) holds on the basket until Five (5) receives the pass and squares up.

Following the pass to Five (5), Two (2) sets a screen for One (1) in the long corner of the floor.

One (1) cuts towards the keyway aiming to move above the double block and below the high post area of the floor. It is important for the cut not be directly at the basket as Four’s (4) defender will be on the split line and this will not provide enough space for a good quality offensive movement.

By cutting above the double block the help defender on the basket will need to make a choice; stay and allow a close range jump shot or rotate to the ball and leave Four (4) open.

Scoring Options:

Four (4) on the rim

One (1) on the mid post cut

UCLA Offense: Dual Point Cut Diagram 4

Two (2) lifts up the sideline.

One (1) continues the cut through the mid post area and onto the vacant weak side wing position.

Five (5) passes to Three (3) and the offense is now ready to continue on the opposite side of the floor.

As the ball is passed to Three (3), Four (4) lifts into the high postposition.

The UCLA Offense Dual Point Cut Play looks to isolate strong interior players in the keyway. This is a simple movement to try and achieve this, but can be very effective. If a team does not have capable interior players then the UCLA Offense Dual Point Cut Play is not for them.

The UCLA Offense is a staple of many teams. Understanding how a play works is one challenge, having the vision and knowledge to be able to link a series of plays together however, is a powerful strategy. Having the understanding and foresight to link a number of plays not only makes your team harder to scout, but allows a coach to build in options for dealing with a wide variety of situations and scenarios.

The UCLA Offense is a well-developed philosophy in regards to a wealth of variations and different choices for creating scoring openings. When producing a series for the UCLA Offense look to incorporate scoring opportunities all over the half-court. This will result in the offense being balanced and creating scoring threats to expose weaknesses in an opponent’s defence.